Coach Patrick Brennan inspired both students and players

The unexpected death of Patrick Brennan, 65, on Thursday has stunned the communities of Easton and Brockton.

EASTON – Amid a large pile of photos, scrapbooks and albums of Patrick Brennan on Paula Brennan's kitchen table is a small piece of paper that she locates.

"This is what one student who was coached by Pat wrote and it really sums him up: 'He made us better than we thought we could be,'" Paula Brennan said on Saturday.

The unexpected death of her husband, Patrick Brennan, 65, on Thursday has stunned the communities of Easton and Brockton. He was an assistant boys basketball coach at Oliver Ames for the past five years. Brennan was also a guidance counselor at Brockton High School for 36 years, as well as a track, cross country and girls basketball coach there.

A moment of silence was held for Brennan before his team, the OA Tigers, played Stoughton at home on Friday night.

The Brennans' four adult children – Alli, Katie, Sean and Michael – attended the game, where the OA co-captain Chris Duggan presented them flowers in memory of their father. OA went on to win the game against Stoughton, 69 to 63.

"Losing was not an option for us," said OA senior forward Nick Cidado after the game.

The inspiration that Pat Brennan brought as a coach made such an impact on Chante Bonds that she is now a coach herself.

"He was such a great coach," Bonds, 30, said Saturday. She is the assistant coach for the women's basketball team at Holy Cross. Bonds was coached by Brennan in 2001 at Brockton High School, when the team won the basketball championship against Pittsfield.

"Coach Brennan loved the game and the love he showed for us made us want to play harder for him," Bonds said.

She kept in touch with Brennan after graduating from Brockton High School and went on to play basketball at Bentley University. Brennan came to some of her games and followed her professional career.

"He was more like a father to me, I went to him for advice. He was such an all-around good guy and had such a huge heart," Bonds said.

Brennan had been named Coach of the Year by The Enterprise, Boston Globe and Massachusetts State Coaches Association.

"He was just great with kids," said Tom Kenney, the former athletic director at Brockton High School. "He was a student of the game and he was able to pass around his knowledge to his players."

Victor Ortiz has known Brennan since 1976. They were both counselors at Brockton High School and Ortiz coached boys basketball.

"He had talent and knew how to get the most out of his players," Ortiz said. "He was like a father figure to the kids he coached."

Ortiz added that Brennan was a loving and dedicated father.

"It was a great experience to know him," Ortiz said.

A funeral Mass will be held at 11 a.m. Monday at the Holy Cross Church in South Easton, followed by a celebration of life reception at the Easton Country Club on Purchase Street. Everyone is welcome to attend and share their memories about Brennan's life, said Paula Brennan.

For Chante Bonds, the skills and life lessons she learned from her former coach are ones she said she will never forget.

"I remember when we won the state championship and there was such an exhilarating feeling of joy and I remember what he said after we stormed the court and after all the photos were taken," Bonds said.

"Coach Brennan said this is a great accomplishment and you should savor this moment, but don't let this be the best you've ever done. You are going on to do greater and better things," Bonds said. "It definitely struck a chord and left a lasting impression on me. He is going to be missed," she said.

Jennifer Bray may be reached at jbray@enterprisenews.com or follow her on Twitter @JenniferB_ENT.